777 takeover of Everton has new hurdle before decision is made

Now it seems as though the Miami-based group will have to overcome another new hurdle before any decision on their hopes to take ownership of Everton can be achieved.

This issue of ownership has dragged on since last year when 777 Partners agreed to buy all of Farhad Moshiri's shares in a deal that came as something of a surprise when it was announced in September.

It is now six months since that announcement and although some progress has been made with the Financial Conduct Authority giving it a green light, we are all still waiting for the rest of the process to be completed.

Meanwhile the group have pumped millions into the club and that finance has proved crucial on keeping things going. But they won't be willing to do that for much longer.

All this comes on top of all the other problems and controversies both on and off the pitch that have dogged the Blues all season long.

Most of all of course, the Premier League's investigations into the Toffees which has already resulted in one ten point penalty deduction (reduced on appeal to six) and could mean another in a few weeks time when the second investigation concludes.

Meanwhile Everton's form has subsided badly with a run of eleven matches without a win in the Premier League since the defeat of Chelsea on 16th December at Goodison Park.

That has left the Blues once gain hovering close the drop zone with just ten games left of the season to avoid another relegation close shave.

The Toffees have been away on a mid-season training camp in Portugal as manager Sean Dyche and his players try to find some decent form for the critical run-in to the campaign.

While it appears as though not everything has gone quite according to plan, we have to hope that the work done over the last week or so will bear fruit and quickly.

777's takeover hang in the balance doesn't change anything that is required on the pitch of course but it represents yet more potential distraction and uncertainty as the campaign nears it's climax.